I cant tell for sure but i think my fence on my jointer is warped you can square on out feed and infeed is out 32nd at top and as best i can tell my tables are coplaner and they are dovetailed so if they aint i dont know how to fix them but i checked with the best egde i got (level lol) and feeler gauges and they were in close so can i take the fence to machine shop and have it flattened or just have to put a ply face on and hope for the best

PS i get a square egde by squaring the out feed side and holding tight to it the first 3” are off but my planer snipes bad enough i have to cut that off any way

-- As Best I Can

10 replies so far

If the tables are not coplanar, you probably need to use shims to fix,but ,depends on individual planerThe fence can be flattened at a machine shop if necessaryYou should not be getting snipe, if out feed table is set rightYou really should have a better straight edge for checking,coplanar

yeah i going to order a edge payday i should clarify the snipe is from my bench top planer not my jointer i joint one edge and run it through my planer to get a consistint width how would you shim the ways though

You can purchase brass shims in various thickness from model/craft shops for about $4 or $5 a pack. Best to buy a multi pack with different size shims, some guys have used soda tin cans but often you will need thinner shims.

As well as needing a straight edge I would recommed buying the book, “Care and repair of shop machines” by John White, the books explains how to shim the tables correctly and even tells how to make your own straight edge fron a lenght of timber and some dry wall screws.

Shimming the tables is quite straight forward, start by undoing the release bolts which hold the tables onto the main body, they will be on the side somewhere, dependant on your model they may be a simple nut, wing type nut or hex key. The table should now lift up for you to slide the ways out. You may not need to bring them all the way out but it could be a good time to lub them anyway. Again, dependant on which way the table is out (droop end or high at the end) will dictate how you will need to shim but he sihim is packed out against the top of the way. It may be a little trial and error to get the tables in line, not difficult but can be a little fustrating if you can’t get that perfect alignment straight off.

It has been a couple of years since I last did mine but that is the basis of the job, I may not have described the process too well but as I said the book is worth the money, it has straight forward easy to read steps and has most fixes and set up guides for the majority of shop machines. Once you have done this job for the first time you will be able to keep a check on the machine and make subtle adjustments from time to time as needs be.

Good luck with it, not being able to attain straight edges on your work is soooooo frustrating.

NBEENER actually your on to something i get glue line edges and square work and flat surfaces (or as flat as i need them) Thanks for all the help i going to get an edge and check if its the tables i will shim it the way yal said but if its the fence i prob go wit nbeener and say if it aint completely broke dont fix it